Google is Revamping the Android Auto Experience and its Android Automotive OS

Google is planning to roll out big updates to Android Auto, its CarPlay-like phone projection system, and cars with Google built-in running its Android Automotive OS. The next generation of Android Auto is getting a visual refresh, improved Google Maps navigation, and more, while cars with Google built-in are also getting Maps and Gemini updates, plus a more immersive media experience.

According to Google, there are now over 250 million cars on the road that support Android Auto, with most of the world’s top car brands now supporting wireless connections to Android phones. On these cars, the Android Auto experience will be refreshed with Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language, smooth animations, and new widgets.

Immersive Navigation in Google Maps, which started rolling out in the US in March, is now becoming available more broadly. The new experience is available on iOS and Android, CarPlay, Android Auto, and cars with Google built-in, and it brings a new 3D UI with intuitive directions, helpful parking previews, and more.

New aesthetic just dropped pic.twitter.com/O4YM8xdU5h

— Google Maps (@googlemaps) March 13, 2026

Google’s Gemini AI is also now generally available on Android Auto. This summer, the new Gemini Intelligence system that will roll out first to the latest Galaxy and Pixel phones will allow users to do even more while driving, including ordering dinner with DoorDash.

“With Gemini Intelligence, your device understands your context, anticipates your needs and gets things done on your behalf, Google explained today. “That means if you get a text from a friend asking for an address, Magic Cue will understand the context of the question, find the answer using information from your text messages, email or calendar, and offer to send a reply with the right information, all in a single tap.”

Lastly, YouTube on Android Auto will add support for full HD 60 FPS quality on YouTube and Dolby Atmos audio is coming to select cars from BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Škoda, Tata, and Volvo later this year. On apps that support background audio, videos will also seamlessly transfer to an audio-only stream when switching gears from parked to drive.

That’s it for the main updates for cars supporting Android Auto. Cars with Google built in, which run the company’s automotive operating system directly without the need for a connected phone, are also getting similar updates.

The seamless video-to-audio transition for videos I mentioned earlier is also coming this year to cars with Google built-in, in addition to new meeting apps like Zoom. Immersive Navigation in Google Maps will also be improved with Live lane guidance, which will leverage the car’s front-facing cameras to analyze the road in real time.

Lastly, Google has worked with car makers to make its Gemini chatbot capable of understanding the vehicle’s hardware. This will allow users to ask Gemini about their trunk dimensions, the purpose of indicators lighting up on the car’s dashboard, and more.